Sealing unit



P 1952 D. R. LEWIS 2,612,390

SEALING UNIT Filed July 9, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 I INVENTOR. I ,zflk' l-fld' 2Q, AIW/ 5/ 52 47 BY A TTORLEY' Sep 30, 1952 D. R. LEWIS 2,612,390

SEALING UNIT Filed July 9, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ap 225R INVENT Ol/GLAv A A! Patented Sept. 30, 1952 g SEALING UNIT. l

v Douglas R. Lewis,"SummitpN.. J., assignor, by mesnelassifgnmentslto The Viscosealcorporaf manning, N.,. I'.,"ajcorporation'of'lilewllersev equal efficacy inconnection with other industrial,

and laboratory applications. The invention may utilize a sealing medium' to provide a viscous cork seal of a pressureequal to that -o,f the me-,-

dium to. be sealed so that there will be no appre; ciable pressure .drop. between the sealing -cham-, ber and'the pressure chamber to be sealed.- ,The

structure of theinvention is, further adapted tohave incorporated therein temperature control features, hereinafter more particularly described.

These and other advantageous objects, which will appear from the drawings, and from the description hereinafter, areaccomplished by my invention, of which embodiments are illustrated in the drawings. ,It ,-will be apparent, from a consideration of said drawings, and the followingdescription, that. the inventionmayjbe embodied in other forms suggestedtherebyysuch other forms as come withinthe scope of the appended claims. are to be considered within the scope and purviewof the instant invention. l

In the drawings: 3 H V,

Fig. 1 is a medial vertical sectional view of; a

sealing unit embodying the invention, shown applied to a shaftindicated fragmentarily,

2 is a schematicview, on ,areduced scale, illustrating .a' form of; the invention which may be used toautomatically replenish anylost sealing medium,

- Fig; 3 is. asectional. view of a modified form.

of the invention, taken through line 3-3 of Fig. l, modified as set forth hereinafter,

Fig. 4 is a top plan-view of a stator ring embodying the invention, and;

Fig-.5 is a vertical sectional view thereof, taken on line 5-.-5 of Fig. 4.

As shown in the drawings, the sealing unit 13 of the invention is adapted to be used in connection with a shaft H] which may be of any outline, that shown in Fig. 1 having an impeller H; or other memberto be rotatedby the shaft secured thereto by suitable means (for example, as shownat l1, Fig. 2). Ihe.pressure vessel or other object in which the shaft is to, be sealed is indicated at I2. In this specification and the appended claims, the term pressure vessel shall be deemedto include any object in which ashaft o1: .-s imilar member having, movement relative thereto is adapted-to be sealed. Thesealing unit l 3 of the invention maybe secured to .saidpres- Application 9, =1

949,'Serial No. 103,837 5- as- 91 sure as showninFig. bolts the-dike; As-a matterof convenience in adapting the unit l3 to the shaft, a sleeve. I5 may-be securedto the shaft,.said, sleeve being provided with, ashoulder l6 complementarytotm shoul; deredzportion ;oftheshaftslfl., v a

. A rotorlfl is keyed to the sleeve [5 as at I9', between the outer head 20 of the sleeve 15 and the snap ring-.2! positioned inayrecess, in the sleeve. The shaft I0, sleeve l5,snap ringjl and,

ture. control groove 23, which may. be;suppliedwith a.,.medium such ,as'oil from; a source (not shown), for heating and cooling purposes, coupled to the threaded apertures 24. The cylindrical portion 26 of the shell 22 is provided with a shouldered end 2'1. In practise, it is found convenient to manufacture the outer shell 22 and cylindri cal portion26 as separate parts welded together as a.t28,"29. ,Cap, 30 ispositioned within the cylindrical portionZB ofthe shell 22, and held in position, by the, snap ring 3|; stator rings 32 and 32f-fare positioned within the cap 3D and spacer, 31 respectively, thelatter being positionedwithin the cylindrical portion 26 of the shell 22. The statorrings are provided with keyways 24, 34' to receive the keys 33, 33' to key the same; to the cylindrical portion 26 of the shell 22, said keyways, aswill be apparent from a considerationv of the,drawings, p ermitting limited movement. of the Stator rings. -The keyways in the cylindrical portion-2B of shell 22 also permit limited movement. Thus, the parts may yield for limited movement in the axial plane of shaft Wand at right. angles thereto, while maintaining an effective seal at all times- Springs 35 in recesses l 8 of, the stator ring 32 engage the shoulder sleof the spacer 31 to press the stator-ring against the'outer head 20 of the sleeve l5. SpringsBB, in recesses 18' of the stator ring 32 engage cap 30 to press the statorlring 32. against the inner head-36- of the rotor I9. Agasket ring 381s positioned between the spacer 31 andthe shoul dered end .21 of the cylindricalportion 2B of the shell 22, and bears on the stator ring 32., gasket ring-39 is positioned, between thecap.Stand the shell 22 and bears on the stator ring 32.

The key 33 keys the stator ring 32 (and the spacer) to the cylindrical portion 26 of the shell 22; key 33' keys the stator ring 32 (and the cap 30) to the cylindrical portion 26 of the shell 22.

The outer'head 20 of the sleeve I is provided with innerfaceflc against which the stator ring 32 engages eginne g b gain t-whitn,;the;

rotor engag s and in'ner face 200'" against which the shaft engages. These faces are preferably hard finished. Likewise, the face 36a of the inner head 36 of the rotor l9, which is enga fid, 1 by the stator ring 32 is preferably hard finished.

i The rotor l9 and stator ring cranes acer. 3 The WOURY'B l define a sealing chamber pressure drop at the pointiridicated "at Z Uw'IT there were any difference in priessure .betweensi:l..

"'i'n'bearings and BI which are suited to the ,.spe'cifi c pressure vessel arrangement shown in said figure. It will be apparent that the invenve s; adapte'cl ftofbe used with equal efficacy with: shaftsior t othei' movable members disposed that in the chamber 4| of the pressure vessel I2 l3. Pursuant to the instant invention, pressure drop may be'obvia-ted by' filling'the sealing cham-= b'e'r 45-with-a'-'sealing medium ofa pressure equal to that-in'the pressure chamber- 4 I The sealin medium should beo'f suitable viscosity and -co hesioii (depending upon the natureofthe 1118- 1 and said sealing chamber; 45 of the sealing unit dium to be sealed inthe' chamber 4 l lan'd should be' immiscible with th'e me'dium to be sealed.

3 This is-a matter which may be determined readily by'the user,- depending' on the ti'ons 0f the invention.-

Pursuant to 'the ifivention, an outer connection may be providedto the "sealing-chamber 45-- fspeci fic applica for eXample,-' as' shown' 'in Fig. l, by position'ing.

a sealing plug' 43 through an" aperture in the outer'shell 22', cylindricalportion' 26 thereof, and

spacer 31 communicating with thesaid -s'ea'ling chamber 45. Said plug may be v'vflde'd; as at'41, to the outer'shel'l 22-. a matter of convenience,- the-specific form shown in Figs-1 maybe-used wherein-the spacer" 31'may be provided with a threaded aperture 50 to receive a s'maller plug 49-, positionedwithin the opening" 48 of the plug 46-andhaving a threaded bore 52in itshead 51 to facilitate connectionthe'zreof'with a sealing.

longitudinal sectional view,'twosuch plugs are shown. spaced 180 apart.

"While I have found in practise that-the seal embodying my invention is most practicar'fin operation; some loss ofsealing medium may occur in prolonged use. An arrangement'such as shown in Fig. 2=maybe used to automaticallyreplenish sealing medium'leaki ng' from chamber 45.

isa reduced schematic view whereinc'er tainstructural features-better-shown in Fig;1-are omitted or schematically shown. 'The"arrange-' ment showri'in -Fig; 2 comprises a reservoir 42;one end '43 of'which is'conn'ected to the 'pliig49, the other} end 44' being connectedto the pressure chamber 4i. The reservoir 42 maybe made of a transparent materialso that the level -lof medium therein-may be'readilyobserved or may "iii other arrangements. The location and numi-bergofisealingumits L3 used may be varied to meet operating requirements; thus, for example, Where'it has been customary to provide two sealing units at spaced points of the shaft, two sealing*units-l3' embodying the invention-m'ay be Fig. 3', a modification is shown wherein.,- in: pl a ce of-the plugs. 46 dispose'dgenerally radially. offthe sealing chamber 45 andisO apart, plugs- 56 of- -=the i same general sort 3 and serving the. same: purpose;- are disposedtangentially of the: sealing chamber 45 and parallel to each-other. this I modification, the inner. head 315 of therotor' is= provided with end notches or recesses -51 Thus a velocity is imparted to the sealing: medium: in: the sealing chamber 45 i when the shaft turns, and-a-pumping action is 'produced, the direction. of the flow depending-on the direction ofirotation of'the shaft. I I

It will be apparent fromthe foregoing: that, in operation, the stator rings 32, 32" are mow able to alimit'eddegree andwillthus compensatev for such axial movements of the shaft as may: occur'in practise, due to play in thrust bearings. thermal changes in'the shaft; or other operational factors; The parts adapt themselvestoi such changes while maintaining a constantand I uniformly efi'icient 'sea'lingaction.v The. gasketbe provided with'a gauge- (not shown) for the purpose. The reservoir may be filled with a msterial 45w corresponding to that with-vs' hich the rings 38-, 39', as will be apparentfrom'aconsidera tion'of'the drawings, 'alsoserve' to maintain-the parts sealed notwithstanding sucli'relativemovement as may occurin practi'set r.

It willbe apparent-from a consideration "of the drawings and the above descrlption that l the structure illustrated. in 'the drawings and". described above may -be made imvariousformsi to suit various specific use requirements, and. that parts maybe multiplied, united and altered withe in the purview and scope of the-invention;'- as set forth in the appended claims.-- 1 For example; the cylindrical portion 26 of shell 22 need notnecess'arily be- :cy1indrical, not need other parts such as the stator" rings, spacer,- cap and rotor be cylindrical. --Th'e partziiare shown cylindrical by way of example-only Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new'and' desi'reto secure bylietters' Patent is:

a'fIna sealing unit for sea-ling a-rotating shaft in an-object, an outer shell adaptedto'be secured to said object, a cylindrical portion onsaid shell having a shouldered'end; said shell and cylindri ca-l portion having'a temperatur control groove and an aperture connected to said groove, rotor means adapted to be secured to saidshaft and; having upstanding inner and outer heads, a'cap insa'idunit, spaced from the rotor, a spacer po sitioned in said shell,- a stator ring positioned in the spacer; means engaging the stator ring and urging the same against the outer head of the rotor, a gasket between the spacer, stator and shouldered end of the shell, a stator ring positioned between the cap and inner head, means engaging the last mentioned stator ring and urging the same against the inner head, and a gasket between the last mentioned stator ring, cap, spacer and shell.

2. In a sealing unit for sealing a rotating shaft in an object, an outer shell adapted to be secured to said object, said shell having a shouldered end, a rotor adapted to be secured to said shaft, said rotor having upstanding inner and outer heads, a cap in said unit, spaced from the rotor, a stator ring, means engaging the stator ring and urging the same against the outer head of the rotor, a gasket between the stator and shouldered end of the shell, a stator ring positioned between the cap and inner head of the rotor, means engaging the last mentioned stator ring and urging the same against the inner head of the rotor, and a gasket between the last 'mentioned stator ring, cap and shell 3. In a sealing unit for sealing a rotating shaft in an object, an outer shell adapted to be secured to said object, a cylindrical portion on said shell having a shouldered end, said shell and cylindrical portion having a temperature control groove and an aperture connected to said groove, a rotor adapted to be secured to said shaft, said rotor having upstanding inner and outer heads, a cap in said unit, spaced from the rotor, a spacer positioned in said shell, spaced from the cap, a stator ring positioned in the spacer, means engaging the stator ring and urging the same against the outer head of the rotor, a gasket between the spacer, stator and shouldered end of the shell, a stator ring positioned between the cap and inner head of the rotor, means engaging the last mentioned stator ring and urging the same against the inner head of the rotor, a gasket between the last mentioned stator ring, cap, spacer and shell, said shell and cylindrical portion and spacer having apertures, and a plug positioned in said apertures to connect the interior of the sealing unit to a source of sealing medium.

4. In a sealing unit for sealing a rotating shaft in an object, an outer shell adapted to be secured to said object, a cap positioned in said shell at one end thereof, a rotor secured to said shaft, a

stator ring, means engaging said stator ring and cap to hold the former against the rotor, said stator ring and shell having recessed keyways and said cap having a keyway aperture therein, and a key positioned in the keyway aperture of the cap with its ends disposed in the recessed keyways of the stator ring and shell connecting the stator ring and cap to the shell.

DOUGLAS R. LEWIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

